Ball pen



Patented July 28, 1953 OFFICE ,Y BALL PEN Walter Scholz, Stuttgart, Germany vApplication .Tune v1e, 1951, serial No. 231,927 In Germany March 27, 1950 This invention relates to a ball pen. I

The so-called ball pens use as a writing elementa ball which is held in the cone-shaped front or writing end of the pen holder. The ball is usually held in Vits place in the writing end by a beaded edge and must for this purpose be covered to about two thirds. This makes it impossible to write with the pen in the usual angular writing position. One object of my invention is to overcome this disadvantage and to make it possibletdus'e-aball pen in the same manner as other pens are used when writing.

Another disadvantage of the known ball pens is that they are not suitable for use with ink of high fluidity because such ink'would easily flow out and would also .tend to obstruct the narrow channels by forming a crust when in contact with air. Viscous paste inks have, therefore, been developed for the use in ball pens but these special inks areapt to undergo changes under the influence of changing temperature. Thus, a further object of my invention is to provide a ball pen which can be used with ink of high fluidity.

Ball pens have become known in which the writing ball is held by a magnet inserted in the front end of the pen holder. While the ball in these pens can be arranged to protrude halfway from the end of the holder, thus making writing in an angular position possible, other shortcomings, however, have not been overcome in the design of those ball pens.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and other objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the ball pen elements and their relation oneto the other, as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by a drawing in which:

Fig. l is a partially sectioned elevation of the front end of a ball pen when not in use, the pen embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar View, but showing the pen in writing position;

. Fig. 3 is a partially sectioned elevation of a detail; and

Figs. 4 to 6 are an elevation, plan view, and perspective view, respectively, of the same detail.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, the ball I preferably made from stainless steel is supported in a spherical seat provided at the apex of a conical member 3. The radius of the seat 2 is substantially the same as that of the ball I so as to ensure a large contact area between the 2 seat' and the ball. lThe member 3 fits in a hollow space of the front end part or portion 4 of theball pen and is arranged to move therein axially within narrow limits provided, for instance, by three stops '5. The endportion 4 is provided with a hollow extension tube 6 the outer wall of which may be smooth or threaded. TheL extension 6 is received in the hollow holder body I which connes the' ink well.

Arranged within the member 3 is a permanent magnet rod 8 which may be inserted, as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in the bore 9 of the member 3 and may be held therein by means of the threaded plug I0 which protects the magnet 8 from coming in contact with the ink. The bore 9 does not extend to theseat 2 so that the ball I is only in contact with the non-magnetic material of the member 3. The distance of the front face ofthe magnet 8 from the ball seat 2 must, of course, be such that the magnetic eld will be suiliciently strong to prevent the ball from falling out. On the other hand, the magnetic field must be suficiently weak so as not to interfere with the rotation of the ball during writing. The member 3 is preferably made from plastic material.

Since the member 3 and the pen end portion 4 t each other accurately, the member 3 in its forward position (Fig. 1) will close the ink well II tightly. In the rearward position of the member 3, the rearward or upper position being controlled by the stops 5, an annular opening forms between the member 3 and the inner wall of the end portion 4 through which ink flows to the ball surface. The closing position of the member 3, as shown in Fig. 1, is automatically assumed when the pen holder is held with its pen point downwards. When writing, the member 3 is automatically moved, due to the writing pressure, t0 its upper position shown in Fig. 2, in which position ink is permitted to flow to the writing ball. When the pen is held with the point upwards, the member 3 will move against the stops 5 and will open the annular passage, but in this position no ink will flow out.

The conical surface of the member 3 is preferably provided With ink grooves I2 which commence at the annular surface engaging the stops 5 (see Fig. 6) and run lengthwise, but'l which do not extend to the ball seat so as not to interfere with the obstruction to the passage of ink in the idle position of Fig. 1. Aside from the ink grooves I2, there are channels I3 provided in the member 3, which channels commence at the same annular rear face and are arranged and dimensioned so as to permit the passage of the stops 5. In a certain rotational position it is, therefore, possible to move the member 3 past the stops 5 and to remove it for cleaning, repair or replacement purposes.

The end portion 4 of my pen holder surrounds 5 approximately one half of the ball I so that the ball in its Writing position protrudes suiiciently far out toy permit Writingunder.,tlfiefusualobliolueJ pen angle",` f

At the highest point of the seat 2 there may be 10 a small aperture I4 in the member 3 to serve as,

a receptacle for a small quantity of a lubricantQL The lubricant facilitates the movement of the" ball Without interfering with the othe,in1 on the surface of the ball andl also p tectsnar L5 ball made or" ordinary steel from rust,

The body 1 may be designed like the'b'ody ofa fountain pen. It may, for example, be,.lpri9ydgj with a piston type suction device. Thus, it is possible ,to ruse for. mybal1' pen thesame body,-A as, 20 for' 'a fcuntainpen., Whenrhepen istabnllem byfsuct'ion', theiballlendissubmersed,in,in y' to.' thesiiction condition, the member, 3 1s, rea, moved from its idle positio'nflg. 1)y tojalloyvm.inl; `-v tll dthe vvellI il Asfsoon. the 'suction,sull!-v 25 sides, the member I3; returns to its clos ng posi; tion. When 'it isf:v desired Ato@ emptylthve', pen,4`\the bau is heid 'against' a `siid2surrac dmovegthe member 3into thev Witing'posti of FigZT'anol to., permitvthe ink, to, ybef'rern'o'veclv by pressure, 30 through the opleningformed'. Y A

From the; foregoing; it'vvill be clearthatf the, ball. penlof myfinvention hasfberfgreaim# moved breathing .themes y tiafceial memberf Whicnisarrangedto move in ,t J*e` frntl'en'd por'', 35 tion ofthe pen holder, Whrebyftbefmdvement. of said member is.A limited .byis'topsQ' and themenif ber `controls `the ov/ Y off..Writiiligl-iuidlt'otheball When not muse,l the` eoni'calmelmbr slutsfo'f the new of writing. ,luidf,vvll'i'engperi 'points'.Y 40

downwardly so that no uid can escape. Under writing pressure, the conical member moves slightly inwardly and opens a passage for the writing fluid. It is, thus, possible to use ink of high fluidity as the writing fluid. Due to the ball being held by a magnet, it may be arranged so as to protrude at least halfway from the front endpffthepenlqqlder and, thereforej not interfrawitawritipewith the, Pembeinaheld in an oblique position.

I claim:

llall pen comprising a main body, a front end part, a conical member arranged to slide axially withingsaigart, stops projecting from the inner Wall ofnthe front end part and limiting the invvardly directed; movement of said member, a magnet disposed Within the conical member, a balls`edated at the apex of the conical member and held in abutting relationship to said member by the magnet Said member,beinaproyidsdafis both withrgreovesTandy-channels:to

Conduct r1 ,A whichgropves,an hannels extendY dane-t, extend@- thefvball, seat, said c .l'ran;ielss'V allowing,said` stops topassand allowingithecegial member; tobainserted and leng W' e rempred,

WALTERASQHQLZ..

Barreras., Qited.. in. me, le, Ogfthis. patent.. UNTFED STATE-1-PAFI`ENT Numberl Name- Date w 211,515 Holland T T Jan.v 2l; 1879 291,925 Mortonv ,.Jan;fw 15', 1884 Number, Country; Date 935,473 France Feb. 2',V 1948,y 94,7;143: France,l Jan. 3, 1949; 

